Didier Drogba's 2 goals help Impact blank D.C. United

​Coach Mauro Biello called it the prettiest free kick by a Montreal player he's seen in 23 years with the Impact.

Only four minutes into a 2-0 victory over visiting D.C. United on Saturday, Didier Drogba lined up from 30 yards out directly in front of the D.C. net and blasted a ball to the top corner that goalkeeper Bill Hamid had no chance to stop.

The former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star added another in the 12th minute as he sent defender Steve Birnbaum off in the wrong direction with a feint and put in his seventh goal in only six games since joining the Impact in July.

Captain Patrice Bernier said it was the first free kick that went directly into the goal by an Impact player since the team joined major League Soccer in 2012. Drogba scored on a free kick last week, but it deflected in off a defender.

"He got a classic, but you can go on YouTube and just add that one to the pack," said Bernier. "The second one, momentum to overstep their chip, that's Drogba.

"You enjoy it but we can't sit on our backsides and just look. We have to keep working so he gets the possibility to do these things."

The Impact (12-11-6) swept a three-game homestand and stretched its unbeaten run to six games, all since Biello replaced Frank Klopas as coach and Drogba became a regular starter.

The winless run for D.C. (13-12-6) is now at six games and Montreal moved to only three points back of United in the Eastern Conference.

Montreal is moving close to securing a playoff for only the second time in four Major League Soccer campaigns, but its good form of late will be tested as the club plays their next four games on the road, starting next Saturday at Orlando, the team trying to grab the sixth and final playoff spot.

'Homer league'

"This is a homer league," said Bernier, the Impact captain coming off a heel injury who made his first start since June 27. "You have to take your points at home, especially to Eastern Conference teams.

"Now we're going on the road, but now we have the state of mind where if we play to our level, nobody can beat us."

I'm really happy with the decision I made. I'm just smiling because I knew from the beginning that my choice was the right one, so I'm a happy man.- Didier Drogba on joining the Impact

Drogba's arrival looks to have transformed the Impact, who are playing with confidence that was absent before the big striker's arrival, even with key players like defender Laurent Ciman and midfielders Ignacio Piatti, Andres Romero and Justin Mapp out of the lineup.

The 37-year-old Drogba said he has no regrets about moving to Montreal late in his career.

"I'm really happy with the decision I made," he said. "I'm just smiling because I knew from the beginning that my choice was the right one, so I'm a happy man."

A sellout crowd of 20,801 roared as Drogba all but put the game away in the opening minutes.

After the intermission, Birnbaum stepped on the back of Drogba's foot, sending him to the ground in pain and drawing a caution. Moments later, Drogba took revenge by shouldering Birnbaum to the grass and got a yellow card of his own.

Birnbaum will sit out D.C.'s next game due to yellow card accumulation, as will defender Conor Doyle.

"Actually they made it a bit tough today and the last game, but I always say it's part of the game," said Drogba.

Drogba was substituted in injury time for rookie Romario Williams.

It was Montreal's first win in three games against D.C. this season. In their last meeting on Aug. 8, the Impact outshot them 25-1 but lost 1-0. This time, shots were 13-9 in Montreal's favour.